Patrol Services
Municipal police departments regularly patrol their own cities. The Sheriff’s Office provides similar law enforcement services to seven communities in the county – Arden Hills, Falcon Heights, Little Canada, North Oaks, Shoreview, Vadnais Heights, and White Bear Township – under contract.
Patrol Services responds to calls for service 24 hours a day, such as medicals, alarms, vehicle crashes, motorist assists, and domestic disputes as well as reports of property offenses and fraud. This unit assists citizens and other law enforcement agencies.
While engaging in community policing practices, Patrol Services actively patrols each contract city to prevent and deter crime, as well as enforce city and county ordinances, and state and federal laws. Initial reports of felony-level offenses are taken by Patrol Services and then forwarded to the Criminal Investigations Unit for further investigation.
State statutes also require an expanded Sheriff’s Office role, providing jurisdiction and authority throughout the county. As a result, the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office collaborates with and supports local law enforcement agencies in a variety of ways, programs, and activities.
Gas Drive Off Report Form (pdf)
View calls for service online
The Sheriff's Office has partnered with LexisNexis to share calls for service information via the website Community Crime Map. Incident data can be viewed on a map, grid, and analytics dashboard. Users can sign up for free reports that automatically email a breakdown of recent activity. CommunityCrimeMap.com helps the public get a better idea of the law enforcement activity in their area so they can make more informed decisions about how to stay safe.
Accident reports
When a law enforcement agency responds to a motor vehicle crash, a Minnesota Law Enforcement State Accident Report may be completed. Accident reports are considered confidential. Accident reports are only released to, or be viewed by, involved individuals, identified on the report, with proper identification or by their designated representative. All reports are processed in accordance with Minnesota Data Privacy and Practices Law.
Police and incident reports
A police report, or incident report, is a documented police event which includes the date, time, address, type of incident, adult persons involved, and a brief description of what occurred. Arrest and citation information is also included in the report.
Public information obtained within any report may be requested.
Traffic unit
The Traffic Unit focuses on traffic enforcement and roadway safety within the contract cities. This includes enforcing state and local traffic laws and regulations, such as speed, seatbelt use, and driving while impaired, conducting directed commercial vehicle enforcement, and responding to citizen and community concerns about speed and driving conduct. This unit utilizes squad cars, unmarked vehicles, and a speed cart/trailer during enforcement activities.
In addition, the Traffic Unit manages a number of a state and federal grants aimed at improving highway safety, detecting and arresting drunk drivers, and reducing accidents. This unit also conducts driver, seatbelt, and child car seat safety courses.
Animal control
An Animal Control Officer is included in the services provided to the contract cities (Arden Hills, Falcon Heights, Little Canada, North Oaks, Shoreview, Vadnais Heights, White Bear Township).
Animal Control primarily responds to concerns about domestic animals within the contract cities by:
- Responding to animal ordinance violations.
- Impounding stray and dangerous dogs.
- Following up on all animal bite reports.
- Helping to resolve issues through negotiation or issuing a citation if necessary.